Apparatus for doffing lint collection chambers



Sept. 1, 1959 E. G. BYRUM, JR

APPARATUS FOR DOFFING LINT COLLECTION CHAMBERS Filed April 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w ,r. m m M m E P O V U T m r m 1 B Wh uJ a Q J Kim r V 1/ G W o u UJ u Z 5 w B M RR @H QM. 9 @mm W NH W N LP R b mu r? mm P 1959 E. G. BYRUM, JR I 2,901,881

APPARATUS FOR DOFFING LINT COLLECTION CHAMBERS Filed April 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mu, HM Hum.

INVENTOR Ely Grady ByrunqJ/t ,wromvavs Sept. 1, 1959 E. G- BYRUM, JR

APPARATUS FOR DOFFING LINT COLLECTION CHAMBERS Filed April 10, 1958 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 AIIIII 'llll LKWENTOR vlllr Ely Grady ByrumJ/c fiW JWQ PMM ATTORNEYS 2,901,881 Patented Sept. 1, .1959

I 2,901,8s1 v APPARATUS FOR DOFFING LINI COLLECTION CHAMBERS Ely Grady Byrum, Jr., Charlotte, N.C., assignor to The Bahnson Company, Winston-Salem, N .C., a corporation of North Carolina 7 Application April 10, 1958, Serial No. 727,734

"6 Claims. or; 51-56 The present invention relates to textile machines such as spinning and drawing frames and the like for processing textile fibers, and more particularly to such machines as are provided with pneumatic suction equipment for keeping the machines relatively free from lint in the vicinity of the fibers being processed. This is a particularly important problem where the fibers are in a loose or only slightly twisted strand such as a rove for the reason that fibers in such condition are most likely to break and also shed loose particles which grow into fluffs as they are blown about. These loose particles and fluffs can easily become entangled in the roves and tend to reduce quality of product. Moreover, the lint and fiulfs get into the moving parts of the machine which is also undesirable.

,One type of apparatus that has been developed for clearing textile machines such as a spinning frame and the like of lint and fiufi's as well as broken strands is comprised of a plurality of air suction tubes positioned adjacent the strands as they come off the drawing rolls, these tubes including an intake orifice or slot in alignment with each strand. The air suction maintained at these orifices is eifective for drawing in the loose particles in the vicinity of the strands and also for catching and drawing in the ends of any strands which should happen to break between the drawing rolls and spindles. The collection tubes are themselves manifolded into a larger central duct which extends for the entire length of and inside the spinning frame. A suction applied at one end of this central duct, the opposite end of the duct being closed, serves to draw the air and collected lint and broken strand ends into a filter box where the lint and broken strand material are caught by a filter screen, the filtered air then being discharged.

In accordance with past practice, the lint, broken strand material and flufis trapped in the filter box are removed, i.e. dotted by hand, put into carts and then hauled back to the picker room, for example, to be reprocessed with new fiber. However, this is not entirely satisfactory since the filter boxes may become overfilled and interfere with proper suction of the lint into the collection tubes positioned along the machine. Also, the labor cost of dofiing each filter box by hand is considerable.

In a co-pending application, Serial No. 666,507 filed June 19, 1957, in the name of Agnew H. Bahnson, Ir. means are provided for dotting the filter boxes automatically, and conveying the lint and other fiber material back to the picker room, or other location for re-processing. In accordance with the system disclosed in that application, a duct under suction, for conveying the lint and other fiber material back to a' point of re-use is provided, such duct being located, for example, below the floor of the room in which the machines are located and servicing a row or a plurality of rows of such machines. A conduit extends from the filter box associated with the suction collection systemof each one or apair of such machines to the conveying duct. At the point where each such conduit enters the conveying duct, a'vertically 2 arranged swinging damper is provided and this damper is normally held closed both by gravity and by the suction maintained in the filter box, the latter suction being higher or greater than that maintained in the conveying duct. In this manner, each of the conduits is sealed off from the conveying duct so long as the related suction collection system is in operation and the lint and other fiber material remains in the collection chamber of the related filter box. To doff the lint accumulated in the collection chamber, the main source of suction normally maintained a in the collection chamber is reduced below the suction maintained in the conveying duct and the effect of this is to permit the suction maintained in the conveying duct to open the damper and draw the lint and other fiber material out of the collection chamber and through the conduit leading from the same to the conveying duct. This reduction in suction in the collection chamber of each filter box is effected automatically and at periodic intervals as determined by the rate at which the lint and other fiber material accumulates in the collection chamber of each filter box. In the application referred to, periodic reduction of the suction maintained in the collection chamber of the filter box is effected by choking back on the suction normally produced by a fan in each box or by a central suction fan which mayserve a plurality of such boxes. The choking back on the suction is accomplished by means of a damper in the suction system and means such as a solenoid connected to the damper for actuating it periodically from its normally open position to closed position.

The present invention also involves the principles of effecting the dofiing of the lint collection chambers automatically by reducing the suction normally maintained in the collection chambers but is'accomplished in a different manner than thatdescribed and claimed in the aforesaid co-pending application. According to the present invention, each of. the collection chambers is provided with a normally closed door. Arrangement is made for opening the door periodically thus to place the interior of the chamber in communication with atmospheric pressure. The effect of this is to decrease the suction normally maintained in the collection chamber below that maintained in the conveying duct thus drawing the collected lint out of the collection chamber into the conveying duct.

In accordance with the invention, the door to the collection chamber in the filter box is opened periodically by the traveling cleaner each time the latter passes the filter box. It'has long been customary in thetextile industry to install a traveling cleaner in the mill containing the textile machinery such" as spinning and drawing frames. The cleaner is arranged to run on a track above and longitudinally of the machines and delivers a blast of air downwardly upon the machines as it travels thus blowing oil the machines. The track may be of the endless type whereby the cleaner travels over all the rows of machines in the mill in succession, or the cleaner may be arranged to travel back and forth along a track that extends longitudinally of one particular row of machines. In any event, the cleaner will pass periodically over each filter box which is actually located at the end of each machine or between the adjacent ends of two machines in the case where one filter box serves two machines. For this purpose, the traveling cleaner, which may be of'any of several known commercial constructions, is provided with a dependingtrip arm which is arranged to strike againstan arm which is secured to the door'to be opened. The door is thus opened and has a delayed closing characteristic in order that it will remain open for a predeter' mined length of time after the traveling cleaner has passed beyond it. The time that the doorremains open is suited to the particular operational'conditions encountered and will be such that all of the accumulated lint in the collection chamber will have been sucked out. If the layout of the mill is such that the time between successive passes of the traveling cleaner over a particular box is rather long, then the door to the collection chamber will have to remain open longer since more lint will have accumulated in the chamber. On the other hand, if the time interval between successive passes of the travcling cleaner over the box is somewhat shorter, then the door to the collection chamber can be permitted to close sooner. Itis important that the door be reclosed as soon as the dofiing is complete, since during the period of dofilng, suction on the orifices adjacent the drawing rolls is materially reduced.

In accordance with a refinement of the invention, the door to the collection chamber is hinged along each side in open type hinges so that it is opened for both directions of movement of the traveling cleaner along the spinning frames and filter boxes. The delayed closing action for the door can be developed mechanically such as by a spring loaded dash-pot, or it can be developed by other equivalent means.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages inherent in the inventive concept will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of a typical embodiment and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate it. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of a portion of a spinning room showing the end portion of a spinning frame with structural details purposely omitted, the frame being provided with an automatic system for dofiing the lint from the collection chamber of a combined suction'and filter box, the duct for conveying away the collected lint including a material handling suction fan;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the combined suction and filter box;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the box shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view through the box taken at right angles to the View shown in Fig. '2; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the layout for a plurality of spinning frames in a room and the overhead traveling cleaner arrangement by which the frames are periodically blown off.

With reference now to the drawings, the floor of the spinning room is indicated at and upon which stands a plurality of spinning frames F, arranged in rows, the drive motor and filter box end portion only of one of the frames being illustrated in order to simplify the drawings. The roving bobbins 11 are mounted between the creel boards 12 and the roving 13 from the bobbins 11 is drawn by and between drafting rolls 14 for winding on the spindles v15. The latter are driven in pairs at each side of the frame by means of endless tapes 16 which are driven off a cylinder 17 that extends for the full length of theframe in the so-called 'underframe portion. Cylinder 17 is driven by a motor 18. a

The air suction apparatus for'collecting loose particles of lint, flufls and'broken ends comprises a central collection duct 19' extending for 'the full length of the frame beneath the level of the rolls. The end of duct 19, at the end opposite the end shown, is closed, and the other end of duct 19 is connected to the inlet of a combined suction and'filter box 20 situated above the drive motor 18. Sometimes, the box 20 may be located at the opposite end of the machine. The box 20 functions to maintain a suction of about 5" in the collection duct 19, to filter the fiber'laden air which flows into the same and todischarge the cleaned'air. V

, Connected to duct 19 by means of tubings 21 are-a plurality of collection flutes 22 each comprising a plurality of spaced slots 23 located where each roving passes from the rolls 14. These slots suck in any loose lint and also suck in the end of any roving should the latter break between the rolls 14; and spindles 15.

The combined suction and filter box 20, as shown in Figs. 2-4, comprises a'casi'n'g 24 which is divided by a filter screen 25 into a rear lint collection chamber 26 and a front suction fan chamber 27. Asv shown in Figs. 1 and 3, duct 19 is connected to the lint collection chamber 26 and delivers the lint laden air to it. The lint is stopped by the filter screen 25 and hencecollects in this chamber.

Located within'the front chamber 27 is a suction fan which may be of any desired type. The fan illustrated has an axial intake and a tangential discharge. The rotor 29 of the fan is driven by a motor 30 located within cham ber 27 and the discharge scroll 31 is provided with a tangentially arranged outlet 32. The suction fan maintains the required suction in the lint collection chamber 26 and draws the cleansed air through filter screen 25, thence through the rotor 29 and scroll 31 and discharges the same through outlet 32. It is desired to point out that in lieu of a suction fan for each filter box in the mill, at central suction fan may be employed and connected to the several boxes by suitable ducting in order to maintain the necessary suction in each box.

In order to remove lint from the collection chamber 26, it will be seen that a conduit 33 extends downwardly from the lower end of the chamber of each filter box and terminates within a conveying duct 34 that extends beneath floor 10. A material handling fan 35 connected to the end of duct 34 establishes a. suction in the duct 34 of about 2" to 3", which is lowerthan that maintained in the collection chamber 26.

The lower terminal end of conduit 33 Within duct 34 includes a horizontal conduit portion 33a extending parallel with duct 34. One end of the conduit portion 33a is closed and the opposite end is closable by a damper plate 36 preferably hanging vertically and hinged at 37 at its top so as to normally stay in a closed position. The damper plate 36 is openable, however, by the suction maintained in the conveying duct 34 whenever the suction in the collection chamber 26 is cut 013? or reduced to a value lower than that normally maintained in collection chamber 26 and hence sucks all of the lint out of the chamber and through duct 33 into the conveying duct 34 and through the material handling fan 35 back to the picker room or other desired central point for re-use. If desired, damper plate 36 may be located elsewhere in conduit 33 so long as it performs its intended function of placing the collection chamber 26 in communication with the conveying duct whenever the suction in the collection chamber 26 is reduced below that prevailing in the conveying duct 34.

As previously explained, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified means for periodically dotting the lint collection chambers 26 of the several filter boxes 20 automatically and such objective is attained by periodically opening a door into the chamber by means of the traveling cleaner which travels on a track above the several spinning frames located in the room. Each time the traveling cleaner passes one of the filter boxes, a trip arm depending from the same is caused to strike against an arm attached to the door and move the latter to an open position. The door is provided with time delayed reclosing means such as will keep the door open long enough for all the lint collected therein to be drawn out.

As shown in detail in Figs. 2-4, each of the filter boxes 20 is provided with a door 40 arranged in the top wall thereof. The door 40 is preferably provided with hinge means extending along each side thereof so as to enable it to be opened from one side thereof or the other depending upon the direction in which the traveling cleaner moves along the frame F. To this end, there are secured to each side of the door 40 a pair of longitudinally spaced hinge'pins 41 which are received in correspondingly positioned open slots 42 provided in upstanding projections 43 which are secured to the outer face of the top wall ofthe box 20. Also associated with each k l i of the hinge pins 41 is an upwardly extending concavely curved guide member 44. The guide members .44 are interconnected at the upper ends so as to limit the extent to which the door 40 is opened.

Upstanding from the central portion of door 40 is an arm 45 and the upper end of arm 45 is disposed in the path of travel of a trip arm 46 which depends from a traveling cleaner 47 which is shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The traveling cleaner 47 can be of any desired construction depending upon the type of cleaning action desired and, in the illustrated embodiment is arranged, as shown in Fig. 5 to travel along an endless track 48 which is arranged to extend longitudinally over the several rows of frames F located in the room. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, as the cleaner 47 passes over each filter box 20, the depending trip arm 46 will strike against the upstanding door actuating arm 45 causing the door 40 to be opened from one side or the other depending upon the direction of travel of the cleaner 46. As will be seen in Fig. 5, the direction of travel of the cleaner 47 longitudinally of one row of frames F will be opposite to the direction of cleaner travel along the adjacent row of frames F. Consequently, the doors 40 along one row of frames will be opened from one side and the doors 40 along the adjacent row of frames F will be opened from the opposite side.

Associated with each of the doors 40 is a delayed action closing means designed to keep the door from closing immediately after the traveling cleaner has passed the same. In the illustrated embodiment, such delayed action reclosing means is constituted by a spring loaded dashpot assembly. Each such dashpot assembly is comprised of a cylinder 49 pivotally mounted at its lower end by means of a pivot pin 50 which is rotatably mounted in suitable aligned openings provided in the side walls of an enclosing housing 51 which is built into the interior of each box 20. Inside of the cylinder 49 is a helical loading spring 52. The upper end of spring 52 bears against the upper end wall of cylinder 49, and the lower end of spring 52 bears against a piston 53 located at the lower end of a piston rod 54. The rod 54 extends through the upper end of cylinder 49 and is pivotally connected to a lug 55 which depends from the under face of door 40. Consequently, when the trip arm 46 strikes against the upstanding arm 45 it will cause the door 40 to be swung open about the hinge means at one side thereof or the other depending upon the direction of movement of trip arm 46. This causes the helical spring 52 in the dashpot cylinder 49 to be compressed as the piston 53 and piston rod 54 are pulled upward. After the trip arm 46 has passed by the arm 45, the door 40 will not close immediately but rather because of the action in the dashpot cylinder 49, the compressed spring 52 is only able to push the piston 53 downward in a rather slow manner thus providing a sufficient delay action in closing of door 40 that will enable all of the lint accumulated in the collection chamber 26 of the filter box 20 to be drawn out of the bottom through the outlet duct 33 and into the conveying duct 34.

This same action is repeated as the traveling cleaner 47 continues along its track 48 and trip arm 46 engages the door actuating arms 45 on the filter boxes associated with the other frames in the spinning room.

In the track layout shown in Fig. 5, since the direction of travel of the cleaner 47 longitudinally of the rows of frames F reverses as the cleaner passes from one row to an adjacent row of frames, it is necessary that the doors 40 on the filter boxes, if all are constructed alike, be capable of opening from either side in accordance with the construction which has been described and illustrated, or at least a construction that is equivalent so far as operation is concerned. However, it is possible to provide a construction where the doors 40 are hinged along only one side provided that the direction of door swing is 6 properly related to the direction of movement of the traveling cleaner and its trip arm.

In conclusion, it is understood that the embodiment of the invention that has been described and illustrated is to be regarded as typical rather than limitative and that accordingly various departures from this particular construction may be possible without, however, departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An assembly for collecting and removing broken thread ends and loose lint in spinning and similar textile fiber strand working machines comprising a collecting duct extending longitudinally of the machine, intake orifice means disposed adjacent the fibrous strands being worked and communicating with said collecting duct, :1 filter box including a collection chamber for collecting lint and thread ends, said collecting duct being connected to said collection chamber, means establishing a primary suction eifective to draw the lint and thread ends through said collecting duct into said collection chamber for accumulation therein, a normally closed door on said filter box which when opened places said collection chamber in communication with the ambient atmospheric pressure, a conveying duct under a secondary suction, a normally closed conduit extending from said collection chamber to said conveying duct, and means for periodically opening said door thereby to render said primary suction ineffective and also opening said conduit thereby to place said collection chamber under the suction prevailing in said conveying duct and draw the accumulated lint and thread ends out of said collection chamber into said conveying duct.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said door is provided with delayed action reclosing means.

3. An assembly for collecting and removing broken thread ends and loose lint in spinning and similar textile fiber strand working machines comprising a collecting duct extending longitudinally of the machine, intake orifice means disposed adjacent the fibrous strands being worked and communicating with said collecting duct, a filter box including a collection chamber for collecting lint and thread ends, said collecting duct being connected to said collection chamber, means establishing a primary suction effective to draw the lint and thread ends through said collecting duct into said collection chamber for accumulation therein, a normally closed door on said filter box which when opened places said collection chamber in communication with the ambient atmospheric pressure, a conveying duct under a secondary suction, a normally closed conduit extending from said collection chamber to said conveying duct, a traveling cleaner arranged to travel longitudinally of said machine and above the same, said cleaner including a trip arm, and means on said door engageable with said trip arm for opening said door thereby to render said primary suction ineffective and also opening said conduit thereby to place said collection chamber under the suction prevailing in said conveying duct and draw the accumulated lint and thread ends out of said collection chamber into said conveying duct.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said door is provided with delayed action reclosing means.

5. An assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said door is provided with hinge means at each side thereof enabling said door to be opened from either side depending upon the direction of travel of said cleaner and trip arm.

6. An assembly for collecting and removing broken thread ends and loose lint in spinning and similar textile fiber strand working machines comprising a collecting duct extending longitudinally of the machine, intake orifice means disposed adjacent the fibrous strands being worked and communicating with said collecting duct, a filter box including a collection chamber for collecting lint and thread ends, said collecting duct being connected to said collection chamber, means establishing a primary 71:. suction effective to. drawrthe-rlin't and thread ends through said collecting duct into said'collectionwchamber for accumulationctherein; said .i primary suction being .sufiicient to retainsaid accumulation of lint and thread ends in said collectiom chamber, anorrnally closed, door;o11 said filter box WhiChp'WhCll ;opened..places said collection chamber in communication. with theambient atmospheric pressure, aconveying ductuunder a: secondary suction, a conduit extending from said collection chamber-t0 said conveying duct, and means for periodically opening said door to rendensaid primary suction-ineffective and cause said ac- 8; cumulatedalintand:threadi'ends. to be .drawn from said collectionchamberthroughsaid conduit into said con-v veyingducth i V s v References Cited in the near this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 908341- Shipp Dec. 29,1908

FOREIGN PATENTS 271,075 Switzerland-, I 2111.. 3,;1951' 433,907 Italy Apr. 15, 1948 

